celebrate 50 years of freedom in hull

On Saturday 22 July, Hull City Centre will come alive with vibrant festivities and entertainment. This is because the annual Pride in Hull Parade is taking place. Â

We spoke to one of the Board Trustees, Heath Marsh-McLeod, to find out more about this fantastic event. Â

Can you tell us about this yearâ€™s Pride in Hull Parade?

This year, Pride in Hull is the first ever UK Pride. This title has been awarded to us by an organisation called UK PON (Pride Organisers Network). Itâ€™s the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in this country and, of course, Hull is the UK City of Culture for 2017. The idea is to give this honour to every City of Culture going forward. Â

It basically means that Hullâ€™s Pride will be bigger and better than itâ€™s ever been before. Weâ€™re hosting the largest Pride Parade ever to take place in the city. It will set off from Hull College, make its way around most of the city centre and end at the Rose Bowl Fountain in Queenâ€™s Gardens. Currently, we have 3,000 people marching. Itâ€™ll be fabulous. Â

As the parade passes through the Rosebowl, Pride in Hull will be open. As you enter Queenâ€™s Gardens, you will be greeted by the All For One Choir. This will be followed by a 7-hour programme of entertainment on the main stage. Â

Local drag celebrity Bobby Mandrell will be performing their original 60s drag act. A few local dance companies will also take to the stage. Samantha Atkinson will be singing. Pop group B*Witched and international drag artist La Voix are also on the line-up. Â

Meanwhile, we have put together an LGBT Sinfonia orchestra. Itâ€™s quite a unique show and essentially involves performing Ibiza dance music with classic orchestral instruments.

Basically, we have a real mix bag of events, all trying to reflect the past five decades of the LGBT community. Â

And this, of course, kicks off a weeklong programme of events across the city?

Yes, indeed. On Monday at Fruit, we have a commissioned performance of Lads and Lasses. We have worked in partnership with Hull Independent Cinema to present a Hull LGBT Film Festival on Tuesday. This involves six LGBT film showings across four different citywide venues.

The following night will be a comedy show and LGBT Entrepreneur workshop. On Thursday, we are hosting a photography exhibition. To finish off, on Friday weâ€™re putting on a Red Ribbon Ball to fundraise for the Hardy Trust, itâ€™s the only Hull-based organisation that helps those living with HIV. Â

What would you say to those who have never attended a Pride event?

Come along with an open mind and embrace something new. Pride in Hull is for everyone, not just for the LGBT community. Itâ€™s for LGBT families, their friends and allies. Everybody is welcome. Come and see a wide range of different entertainment that you may not usually see in Hull. At the end of the day, itâ€™s a celebration of diversity and the last fifty years of freedom.

The Pride in Hull Parade is completely free. For more information and to find out more about the subsequent LGBT 50 events, please visit the Hull 2017 website.Â